§ 910a - Reparative boards; functions - Vermont Statutes

§ 910a. Reparative boards; functions

(a) The commissioner shall establish reparative boards and appoint to them members of the community with the advice and recommendation of nonprofit organizations or municipal entities in the localities concerned. The commissioner shall appoint each board member to a term of one to three years, may reappoint a member to consecutive terms, and may remove a member for good cause.

(b) Each board shall elect its chair from its membership. A chair may serve for no more than one year uninterrupted. All meetings of a board shall comply with open meeting law requirements of subchapter 2 of chapter 5 of Title 1, consistent with probationer confidentiality requirements of this title, and as may be imposed by the court.

(c) Each board shall adopt bylaws approved by the commissioner. Such bylaws may authorize each board to establish panels to conduct reparative board activities.

(d) Each board shall conduct its meetings in a manner that promotes safe interactions among a probationer, victim or victims and community members, and shall:

(1) In collaboration with the department, municipalities, the courts, and other entities of the criminal justice system, implement the restorative justice program of seeking to obtain probationer accountability, repair harm and compensate a victim or victims and the community, increase a probationer's awareness of the effect of his or her behavior on a victim or victims and the community, and identify ways to help a probationer comply with the law.

(2) Educate the public about, and promote community support for, the restorative justice program.

(e) Each board shall have access to the central file of any probationer required to participate with that board in the restorative justice program.

(f) When engaged in board activities, a board member shall be considered a volunteer with regard to any grievance or other matter governed by section 1101 of Title 3. (Added 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 68, eff. May 24, 2000.)